Children of former President Rodrigo Duterte filed separate petitions for the issuance of the Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Supreme Court (SC) to bring their father back to the country after his arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Veronica “Kitty” Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte filed the petitions, asking the court to order key officials of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration to produce the former president’s body and present it to the court.
Kitty filed her petition with the help of her father’s former presidential legal counsel, Atty. Salvador Panelo, and his son, Atty. Salvador Paolo Panelo while Baste filed his petition through the Tolentino and Associates law firm.
The petitions named Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Police Chief General Romel Francisco Marbil, and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Nicolas Torre as respondents.
The Duterte siblings claimed their father’s arrest was unlawful and violative of his constitutional rights to due process.
They also argued that the ICC’s actions violated the country’s sovereignty.
The petitioners requested the court to order the unconditional release of the former president and issue an order upholding justice, due process, and the rule of law.
Former President Duterte was arrested on Tuesday morning at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) upon his arrival from Hong Kong.
He was later brought to the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.
Around 11:03 pm, members of the International Police Organization (Interpol) flew Duterte to the ICC’s Headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands, via a chartered flight.
Duterte faces multiple charges for crimes against humanity at the ICC related to his drug war during his presidency.
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.